More Than a Golf Tournament: Why the Northwest Iowa National Invitational Is Special to Me

Every September, things get a little busier around our house.

Actually, “a little” might be an understatement.

There are golfers coming to town, registration lists to check, host families to coordinate, volunteers going in every direction and a refrigerator that suddenly needs to hold enough food for a small army.

That can only mean one thing: it’s time for the Northwest Iowa National Invitational.

The 2026 tournament is September 20-22 at Willow Creek Golf Course in Le Mars, and this year we’ll welcome 22 college golf teams from around the country.

I’ve been involved with this tournament for years, and while I obviously love the golf, what keeps me coming back is everything that happens around it.

More Than 100 Volunteers Make It Happen

A tournament like this doesn’t just happen because golfers show up at a course.

It takes more than 100 volunteers.

We have marshals on the course Monday and Tuesday spotting balls and helping keep the pace of play moving. Hospitality volunteers provide drinks and snacks for players. Scorekeepers keep things updated online. The grounds crew works morning and night preparing the course.

Then there are people helping with registration, housing, organization and countless other jobs that most spectators probably never even see.

I’ve always served as the Registration Chairperson. This year, I’m also co-chairing the housing committee with Kevin Eekhoff.

It’s busy, but I wouldn’t trade it.

The Host Family Tradition

One of the things that makes our tournament unique is our host family program.

College players stay with families in the area while they’re in Le Mars, and whenever possible, host families get the same team back each year.

Dale and I have hosted the same team for six years.

After that many years, you really get to know them.

We’ve watched players come back year after year, shared meals around our table and caught up on what’s happened since the previous tournament. Because Dani played college golf herself, we’ve even run into some of these golfers at other tournaments we’ve traveled to.

Those relationships have become one of my favorite parts of the entire event.

Watching Dani Play Here

Of course, this tournament has another special connection for our family.

Dani played in it for four years as a student-athlete at Grand View University.

I’ll always remember her freshman year. Her team came to Le Mars and set a school record during the tournament.

That’s one of those mom memories I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

Now her college golf career is over, but her connection to the tournament isn’t.

I’m a tournament sponsor, which means Dani can now play on my amateur team during Sunday’s College-Amateur Tournament.

I got to watch her compete here as a college golfer, and now we get to experience the event together in a completely different way.

Welcoming Golfers to Le Mars

I also love that the Northwest Iowa National Invitational brings people from around the country into our community.

Players and coaches receive tournament items featuring the NWIT and Ice Cream Capital of the World logos. In past years, we’ve given golf towels, club cleaners, backpacks, caps and T-shirts.

The T-shirts seem to be a favorite!

Teams also receive vouchers they can use at local restaurants.

We want them to get out into Le Mars while they’re here. We want them eating at our restaurants, seeing our community and meeting the people who live here.

When a team chooses to come back year after year, I think that says something about the experience they’re having.

See You at the Course

The golf is obviously important. There will be some incredibly talented college golfers competing at Willow Creek.

But when I think about this tournament, I think about so much more.

I think about the people staying in our home. I think about Dani playing here as a freshman. I think about volunteers showing up early in the morning. I think about players walking into local restaurants wearing their tournament shirts.

Those are the things that make the Northwest Iowa National Invitational special to me.

If you’re around Le Mars September 20-22, I hope you’ll help us welcome these players and coaches to town.

And if you see me running around somewhere with a registration list in my hand, now you’ll know why. 😊